Ban Sung: Where Dao Tien Culture Breathes in the Mountains

(TITC) – High in the folds of Bieu Mountain in Hoa Binh province, Ban Sung appears like a village suspended in time. Home to the Dao Tien people, it is often called a “living museum” – but here, culture is not locked behind glass. It lingers in the scent of fresh Shan Tuyet tea, the rhythm of looms weaving brocade, and the chants of ancient rituals. For travelers seeking something beyond sightseeing, Ban Sung offers an immersion into both nature and spirit.

A Village Cradled by Forests

At more than 500 meters above sea level, Ban Sung is wrapped in cool, fresh air all year round. Wooden houses with palm-leaf roofs – 73 in all – rest quietly under the shade of centuries-old trees. Life unfolds slowly here, with the forest as constant companion and guardian.

The village’s pride is its ancient Shan Tuyet tea forest, a gift of nature that has sustained generations. The tea trees, their trunks rough and timeworn, stretch deep roots into the earth. Villagers hand-pick the leaves, roast them over gentle fires, and brew a tea whose golden liquid carries a mellow sweetness that lingers long after the last sip. To the Dao Tien, Shan Tuyet is not just tea – it is memory, ritual, and pride.

Echoes of an Ancient Script

Ban Sung is also a keeper of traditions rarely seen elsewhere. Twice a month, shamans gather villagers young and old to teach the Nom Dao script. By candlelight, characters that have crossed centuries are traced carefully on paper, preserving both language and lore. Alongside the script, ceremonies such as Cap Sac (a coming-of-age ritual), the vegetarian ceremony, and Tet Nhay festival are still performed, connecting the community to its ancestors.

Visitors are often invited to join these lessons. Canadian traveler Marissa recalls: “I was amazed when the teacher guided me to write the ancient Dao script. It was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.” For many, the chance to witness or even hold a brush to paper becomes an unforgettable moment of cultural closeness.

Craft, Flavor, and Daily Rhythm

Ban Sung’s artistry is most visible in its brocade weaving. Dao women, with patient skill, turn cotton threads and beeswax into dazzling geometric patterns. Each stitch takes time; each motif tells a story. “A traditional costume may take months to complete,” explained artisan Ly Thi Hang. “But within it lives the spirit of our people.”

Meals in Ban Sung are as much a cultural experience as the crafts. From free-range hill pigs and Da River fish to wild vegetables gathered from the forest, dishes are served on banana-leaf trays that symbolize harmony with nature. One standout is sour fermented meat, a specialty that takes up to 18 months to reach perfection. Its rich tang lingers, ensuring the taste stays in memory as much as in the mouth.

A Community Opening to the World

Tourism has brought new energy to Ban Sung. Families who once lived quietly by tea and weaving now welcome guests into homestays, share meals, and guide travelers through cultural experiences. “Since opening to tourism, people are prouder of their traditions,” said farmstay host Ly Thi Nhat. “We are learning how to improve services while keeping our culture alive.”

Evenings in Ban Sung are magical. Instead of television screens, visitors gather by the fire with their hosts. Laughter, stories, Dao songs, and the fragrance of freshly brewed tea create a warmth that transcends language. It is in these simple, human exchanges that many travelers find their most treasured memories.

Keeping the Flame Alive

The community faces challenges. As younger generations look outward, crafts and rituals risk being forgotten. Yet initiatives such as the Dao Tien Brocade Cooperative, founded in 2023, are helping turn tradition into livelihood. Handmade brocade, herbal baths, weaving workshops, and script classes have become experiences that not only sustain income but also deepen pride.

Today, more than 50 households participate in tourism, offering homestays, performances, guiding, and craft workshops. For visitors, this means countless ways to immerse in the Dao Tien way of life – whether learning to weave, bathing in herbal remedies, or sipping tea under a starlit sky.

A Journey Beyond Travel

Ban Sung is not simply a destination – it is an encounter with heritage in motion. Here, ancient scripts are inked anew, looms beat steadily with life, and Shan Tuyet tea whispers the stories of the forest. Travelers leave not just with photographs, but with the rare feeling of having stepped into a community where culture breathes and welcomes.

For the Dao Tien, tourism and tradition walk hand in hand. And for those who venture here, Ban Sung offers more than a journey – it offers a return to simplicity, to authenticity, and to the timeless dialogue between people and the land they call home.

Tourism Information Technology Center